D1-D2 Athens → D3 Delphi → D4-D5 Meteora → D6-D8 Santorini. The mainland portion is based in Athens, with day trips and overnight tours by bus or private transfer; the Santorini portion starts with a 45-minute flight from Athens, saving a full day compared to taking a ferry.
Arrive at Athens International Airport → Take Metro Line 3 or Airport Bus X95 into the city → Check in around Plaka or Monastiraki → Explore the stone-paved alleys of Plaka in the evening, then enjoy a meal at a Greek taverna in Monastiraki Square while admiring the illuminated Acropolis.
Early morning climb up the Acropolis to see the Parthenon and the Porch of the Caryatids at the Erechtheion, avoiding midday heat and crowds → Acropolis Museum → Watch the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square → Visit the Panathenaic Stadium and the gardens of the Zappeion Hall → In the evening, hike up Mount Lycabettus for a sunset view over the city.
Take a 2.5–3 hour bus ride from Athens to Delphi, where you can visit the Temple of Apollo, the Temple of Athena Pronaia, and the Delphi Archaeological Museum—known in ancient Greece as the “navel of the world.” Return to Athens in the evening, or stay overnight in Delphi if you plan to head north the next day.
Travel from Athens to Kalambaka by train or bus, and explore the Meteora monastery complex built atop towering rock pillars (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It’s recommended to watch the sunset at one of the monasteries in the evening, then catch the sunrise and visit another monastery the next morning before returning to Athens in the afternoon. Be mindful of monastery closure days and dress codes.
Fly from Athens to Santorini → Check in to Fira or Oia → Walk along the cliffside path from Fira to Oia, about 3 hours, with views of white-washed buildings, blue domes, and the Aegean Sea → Watch what is often called the most beautiful sunset in the world at the Oia Castle ruins in the evening.
Option 1: Take a boat tour to volcanic islands and hot springs, then return to the old port of Fira. Option 2: Rent a car or hire a private transfer for an island tour to see Red Beach, Black Beach, the Akrotiri Bronze Age ruins, and the ancient town of Pyrgos, then visit a winery in the afternoon for a taste of local volcanic wine (Assyrtiko).
Take one last photo of Oia’s blue-domed churches in the early morning, then head to the airport in the morning for your flight back to Athens and onward departure. If time allows, stay half a day in Athens to visit the Ancient Agora or the National Archaeological Museum of Greece.